Monday, March 26, 2012

Reader Poll: Buffalo Trace Antique vs. Van Winkle

Okay, here's a new whiskey poll for all of my American whiskey fans. This week's hypothetical scenario is as follows: because of the shortages and general craziness around the regular releases of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and the Van Winkle line of bourbons and the frequent complaints from both consumers and retailers, Buffalo Trace and the Van Winkles have decided that everyone can choose access to one, and only one of these collections.

You have one chance to make a choice, and once you do, it's for life. You can't switch. Once you choose, you will have access to each expression in the release and can buy as many as you like. Assume for the purposes of the poll that no new expressions will be added, however, as in real life, we know that stocks of Stitzel-Weller are finite, so eventually, the Pappys that still use Stitzel-Weller bourbon (the 20 and 23 year old) will be switched to Buffalo Trace distillate.

If you pick Van Winkle: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year 90 proof, Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year 107 proof, Van Winkle 12 year Lot B, Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye and Pappy Van Winkle 15, 20 and 23 year old (Sorry, no Old Rip 23, that was a limited release).

Look, I like Pappy. I think it's a really well-made bourbon. But I think it is far and away the most overrated bourbon in the universe and does not deserve the level of hysteria and insanity that has been going hand in hand with it lately. I have had the privilege of having a few Stitzel-Weller whiskeys beyond PVW and they're all really good. But you know what? They're not the end-all, be-all of whiskey. It's honestly become a bit boring because it's this shorthand for "untouchably good bourbon".

Yes, it's really good. But it's not as good as everyone really wants it to be. The Parker's Heritage whiskeys are really good. High West has had some stellar ones. And, yeah, BTAC is extremely solid as well.

That's not to say that BTAC doesn't suffer from hype and craziness (and I wish they'd drop ER17 for a mashbill #2 at barrel proof) but it seems to invite less out-and-out-idiocy. Pappy release time is about as annoying April 1 on the internet.

I love the Stagg, but can only take so much of it. I love the Handy and can take more. The Saz18 is delicious, but a bit erratic from year to year, and there's no way of knowing what the new distillate will taste like when these tanked stocks dry up. ER17 is noble, but with CEHT taking priority at BT, who knows what's to come in the future from this under-proofed underdog? And, with the Van Winkles getting priority on all the ruby wheats, Weller is falling to the wayside.

Honestly, I think I'd take the Van Winkle and just hoard all the old-stock VWFRR until it's gone. Then I'd be left with the cream of BT's wheater crop, and still have access to PHC and Four Roses.

What are y'all thinking!!! I would take the Stitzel-Weller all day any day... Give me the 20 Year and 23 Year. I can get the BTAC (minus Stagg) still to this day at the local liquor stores, and thus Ryan is in paradise right now.

BTAC. If all I had were wheaters and one rye, I'd go nuts. I might miss some of the roundness and fruitiness of the van Winkles, but WLW makes a pretty good pour, enough that I wouldn't pine for Pappy.

Wow, I thought everyone would be on the BTAC side, so it's surprising to read some VW supporters. The only VW I really enjoy is the 15. The 20 and 23 are over the hill and overpriced for that matter. Even disregarding the value factor, I'd generally take any of the BTAC over the VW 20 and 23 year old. Add in the value factor though and it's absurd to pay two to three times for the 23 as the BTAC. The sheer variety, quality, and value of the BTAC makes it the easy winner. It's almost an unfair question. You might as well ask people if they prefer receiving a million dollars (tax free) or a kick in the crotch.

@James: That's a bit hyperbolic. VWSR 12 and PVW 15 are my go-to bourbons. And I enjoy ORVW 10 in an Old Fashioned. Sure, I could buy WLW and cut-it down, but I've disliked releases of WLW dominated by oak, so relying on WLW (for the flavor profile of wheated Bourbon that I enjoy) would be a feast or famine endeavor. Same goes for all others in the BTAC line-up; if a GTS, ER17, or Saz18 were drenched in oak then it's wasted on me and I'd have to try again the next year. But I can also appreciate that others don't mind heavy oak, or have a passion for Rye, so BTAC is very appealing to them. It's just comes down to personal preference and there's nothing wrong with that.

Variety? I'll say that there's plenty of variety between the ORVW 10 & 12, the PVW 15, and my favorite rye the VWFR Rye. As much as I love the Saz 18 and GTS, I'll stick with Van Winkle for the 15yr, Rye, and the affordability of the 10yr ($45-50 compared with having to shell out $70+ for the BTAC bottles...just sayin' haha)

Seriously, how is this even close? BTAC by a mile. If the Stitzel-Weller barrels were never ending you'd have an argument. Barrel proof bourbon, barrel proof wheated bourbon, barrel proof rye, and well aged rye against overaged BT wheated bourbon and a well aged rye that is only arguably better than the other?

In order to keep the BTAC hype train from becoming like the Van Winkle releases, maybe I should change my vote. Um...Van Winkle is my answer...

Pappy is fantastic bourbon but impossible to get. OWA is fantastic bourbon that will soon be impossible to get--literally. What is the point in asking the question if BT is discontinuing OWA as I have heard?